PLEASE refer to the recent review of Mr Hamid Khan’s book which is informative and a clinical view of Pakistan’s judiciary, its highs and lows, and the actors involved.

All said and done, I feel Mr Khan should have mentioned the towering figure of Justice Muhammad Rustom Kiyani. Justice Kiyani may not have passed any “benchmark” judgment. However, his speeches were as good as any judgment.

Muhammad Rustom Kiyani was born into an ethnic Pashtun family in a village near Kohat. He graduated from Government College Lahore. He got selected in the Civil Service of Pakistan.

After serving for 18 years, he was transfered to the judiciary. He rose to become the chief justice of the West Pakistan High Court. He could not make it to the Supreme Court of Pakistan for obvious reasons. Though it neither mattered nor made any dent in his personality.

He was gifted with a keen sense of humour. He was satirical whithout being sarcastic, and humorous without being offensive. He was as gentle as a rose petal; yet firm and unshakeble in his conviction.

He was invited to speak by the then Chittagong and Commila Bar Association. A night before the event he had a massive heart attack as a result of which he passed away.

His humble possessions included a small suitcase containg some clothes, two air tickets, one Sharp fountainpen and Rs29. On the table was an unfinished speech which he was supposed to deliver the next day.

Aijazuddin

Karachi

Published in Dawn, October 8th, 2016